Floor crane

ABSTRACT

A floor crane having a wheeled base with an upright support pivoted to one end thereof, a jib pivoted to the upper end of the upright support and a fluid ram interconnecting the upright support and jib such that the upright support can be disposed parallel with the base with the jib and fluid ram substantially disposed therebetween.

Unite States Patent Ttdswell 1 June 6, 1972 [54] FLOOR CRANE [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 567,765 9/1896 Ewbank ..2l4/l30 [72] Inventor. Anthony Chfford Tldsvvell, l8, Nene 731 90 2 1905 Stickney 13o 3 Hummgdom Hummgdonshwe, 3,367,512 2/1968 Kaplan ..214/130 x g an '22] Filed: Jam 16, 1970 Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Eraminer-Jerold M. Forsberg I21 App]. No.: 3,541 Attorney-Holman & Stern [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABS CT A floor crane having a wheeled base with an upright support 1969 Great Bmam "3391/69 pivoted to one end thereof, a jib pivoted to the upper end of the upright support and a fluid ram interconnecting the [52] US. Cl. ..2l4/l30R upright support and jib Such that the upright Support can be [51] Int. Cl. UB66c 23/00 dis osed arallel with the base with the and fluid ram 58 FieldofSearch ..2l4/l3OR,130C;212/8R; p p 1 stantially disposed therebetween.

34 29 an H y "infinitm gl 2 PATENTEDJUN 6 m2 3, 667. 632

SHEET u UF 4 FLOOR CRANE This invention relates to floor cranes which can be used, inter alia, for hoisting engines from and into motor vehicles.

Existing forms of floor cranes are cumbersome, take up valuable space when not in use in a garage or workshop, and are not readily transportable. A requirement, therefore exists for a floor crane which can be packed into a small space when not in use and which is readily transportable for use, for example, at car race meetings or emergency breakdowns, and it is an object of the present invention to satisfy this requirement.

According to the present invention there is provided a floor crane comprising a base, an upright support connected to the base, a jib movably connected to the upright support and operating means connected between the upright support and the jib for moving the jib relative to the upright support, the connections between the base, the support and the jib and its operating means being such that the upright support can be folded into a position substantially parallel to the base with the jib and its operating means substantially therebetween.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a floor crane according to the present invention shown hoisting an electric motor;

FIG. 2 is a corresponding side elevation;

FIG. 3 is a corresponding front elevation;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the floor crane folded;

FIG. 5 is a section on the line V-V of FIG. 3;

F IG. 6 is a detail perspective view of the crane jib and its connection with its operating means;

FIG. 7 is a detail view of the jib operating means; and,

FIG. 8 is a perspective view ofa modified floor crane.

The floor crane comprises a base structure comprising two parallel horizontal legs 21 of rectangular tubing interconnected at one end by a transverse load-supporting member 22 also of rectangular tubing and welded to the legs 21. A castor wheel 23 is mounted at each end of the member 22 and a wheel 24 is mounted in front of each leg 21, the wheels 24 are parallel and each wheel 24 is enclosed at its sides and front by a U-bracket 25 which provides a supporting surface on which the crane can be rested for storage, and which protects the wheel 24 if, for example, the crane is pushed against a wall. The brackets 25 are welded to the legs 21.

The legs 21 are also interconnected by a transverse angleiron member 26 located nearer the member 22 than the front of the legs 21. This angle member 26 is adapted to receive at the front of its upright web a drop plate 27 and an associated lock pin 28 as hereinafter described.

Two pairs of plates 29 are welded to the top of the member 22 and serve to connect the base structure 20 and an upright structure 30.

The upright structure or support 30 is at the load-supporting end of the crane 30 and comprises two parallel uprights 31 of rectangular hollow section interconnected at or adjacent the top by a circular tubular cross member 32 and intermediate their ends but nearer their bottom by a cross beam 33 of rectangular hollow section. Each upright 31 is pivoted between a pair of plates 29 as indicated at 34. A pair of upstanding plates 35 are welded to the top surface of the cross beam 33 and are apertured to receive a cross bolt 36 for a purpose hereinafter described.

Two brackets 37 are welded to the uprights 31 substantially mid-way of their lengths and to each bracket 37 is pivoted, as indicated at 38, a stay 39 also of rectangular tube construction. The stays 39 at their lower end are welded to a cross angle member 40 at the front of which is the drop plate 27 and lock pin 28. The lock pin 28 is at one end of a fork 28A welded to the angle member 40 and within the slot of the fork 28A is mounted the drop plate 27. The drop plate 27 is mounted on the lock pin 28 and is aligned with the fork 28A for insertion through a hole in the angle member 26 and then the drop plate 28 is turned through 90 about the lock pin 28 as shown to secure the stays 39 and thus maintain the base structure 20 and the upright structure 30 at right angles. The drop plate 28 at its inner slot has a ridged edge securely to engage the lock pin 28. This arrangement provides a very efficient securement of the stays 39.

A hydraulic ram 41 is pivoted between the plates 35 by the cross bolt 36 and this ram 41 is connected to an assembly 42 of oil pump, valve and oil reservoir by a flexible pipe 43. The hydraulic pump is preferably an integral part of the hydraulic ram assembly. A reciprocable handle 44 is operatively connected to the pump. The handle 44 is preferably reversible and removable and when it is removed it can be located in a socket (not shown) provided for it on one of the uprights 3 1.

The ram 41 is connected to a jib 45 as later described to permit pivotting of the latter. The jib 45 has an extensible arm 46 whereof the sections are apertured as indicated at 47 and the length of the arm 46 is determined by aligning apertures 47 in the arm sections and passing a pin 48 therethrough. This pin 48 is either lockable in position or at least not readily removable. It may, for example, be secured in position by a ball and resilient recess means. A hook 49 is rigid (but may be swivelled or mount a swivel) with the free end of the arm 46 which at its other end has a rigid cross sleeve 50 which surrounds and is coaxial with the cross tube 32 which serves as a hearing. The sleeve 50 substantially abuts the uprights 31 of the upright support 30, and is provided with a grease nipple 50A for lubrication purposes.

The jib arm 46 has welded to its underside adjacent the load-supporting end of the crane a plate 51 which has an elongate slot 52 cut in it, the slot 52 being extended laterally as indicated at 53, that is at its end remote from the cross sleeve 50. The slot 52, 53 is therefore substantially L-shape. The piston rod 54 of the ram 41 has a fork 55 at its end connected to the jib arm 46, the limbs of which fork 55 are apertured as indicated at 56 to receive a cross bolt 57 which also passes through the slot 52, 53 and is slidable along the slot 52, 53.

An apertured lug 58 is welded to one of the uprights 31 for a purpose later described.

As indicated, the handle 44 for the hydraulic pump of the assembly 42 may be located in a socket (not shown) on one of the uprights 31. The assembly 42 is secured to the other upright 31, that is, the one not having the socket for the handle by a bracket 59 having oppositely-directed projections. As will be seen in FIG. 7, these projections are engageable in the band clamps 60 or the like surrounding the assembly 42 so that the assembly 42 as well as the pipe 43 and handle 44 can be easily and readily removed from the crane for maintenance, repair or replacement.

When the crane is in use, it is as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

When, however, it is desired to fold the crane for stowage or transport purposes, the jib arm 46 is retracted to its shortest length, the ram 41 is retracted, the operator slightly lifts the jib arm 46 to move the cross bolt 57 out of the lateral extension 53 of the slot 52, the cross bolt 57 then being moved along to the opposite end of the slot 52 and then the operator actuates the pump slightly to extend the ram 41 and lock the cross bolt 57 in said opposite end; the operator then rotates the drop plate 27 to a fork-aligned position, tilts the upright support 30 slightly backwards to pull the fork 28A, lock pin 28 and drop plate 27 free of the cross member 26, pivots the stays 39, 40 upwards to engage the fork 28A, lock pin 28 and drop plate 27 in the apertured lug 58 where it is secured by the drop plate 27 as aforesaid. The upright assembly 30 is then pivoted downwards to rest on the cross member 26 as shown in FIG. 4. If necessary, a convenient lock, say key operated, may be provided to secure the crane in this FIG. 4 configuration.

The erection of the floor crane from the FIG. 4 configuration will be clear from the above.

Reference is now made to FIG. 8 of the drawings.

The floor crane (FIG. 8) comprises a base structure made of rectangular section tubing and formed of two parallel horizontal legs 81 interconnected at one end by a transverse load-supporting member 82 welded at its opposite ends to the legs 81, a second transverse bracing member 83 parallel spaced from the load-supporting member 82 and likewise welded at its opposite ends to the legs 81, and a third cross member 84 parallel to the other two but projecting from the sides of the base structure 80 so as to accommodate castors 85 to.support the load bearing end. This member 84 is fixed at one end of the legs 81 of the base. At the free end of each leg 81, two parallel plates 86 are welded to the vertical opposite sides of the leg 81 to project beyond the leg 81, and a wheel 87 is joumalled on an axle passing horizontally through the plates 86. These plates 86 extend beyond the wheel 87 so that the crane can be support on their free ends for storage purposes, and also so that the base frame can be pushed up against a wall without the wheels 87 coming into contact with the wall.

At the load-supporting end of the base structure 80, a column 88 extends upwardly from the load-supporting transverse member 82. This column 88 is formed by two parallel spaced rectangular section tubes 89 each pivoted at 90 at its lower end between a pair of upright plates welded to the .loadsupporting transverse member 82. The two tubes 89 of the column 88 are supported in their upright position by inclined stays 91 each hinged as indicated at 92 by means of a bolt to a separate one of the upright tubes 89 at the upper end of the stay 91 and secured at its lower end on the base structure 80 between a pair of upright lugs 93 welded to the bracing member 83 of the base structure 80. This lower end of each stay 91 is secured to the lugs 93 on the member 83 by a removable pin 94.

At the upper end of the column 88, the two upright tubes 89 are interconnected by a circular section horizontal cross-tube (not shown) welded therebetween and a jib 95 is pivotally supported on the cross-tube by means of a sleeve 96 which fits around the cross-tube which acts as a bearing and to which the inner end of the jib 95 is welded. This job 95 is preferably made in telescopic form, with an extension tube 97 fitting within the main tube 98 of the jib 95 and positioned by means of a pin 99 which passes through apertures 100 in the main part of the jib 98 and into any selected one of a number of pairs of apertures 100 spaced apart along the extension portion 97 of the jib 95.

The jib 95 is raised and lowered pivotally about the crosstube on the column 88 by means ofa hydraulic ram 101 which is pivoted at its lower end on a bolt 102 passing between a pair of plates 103 on a cross piece 104 welded between the upright tubes 89 of the column 88. At its opposite and upper end, the ram 101 is releasably pivoted between a pair of plates 104 welded to opposite vertical sides of the main part 98 of the jib 95. The plates 104 have two pairs of holes 105 in which the bolt 106 that secures the ram 101 can be secured.

A hand-operated pump 107 for pumping fluid into the ram through a valve, is secured between the two upright tubes 89 of the column 88.

At the outer end of the jib 95, any suitable coupling link or hook 108 can be provided to connect a chain between the jib 95 and the load to be lifted.

It will be apparent, from the description given above, that the crane can be readily collapsed to store it away or for transportation purposes. This is effected by withdrawing the bolt 106 securing the upper end of the ram 101 to the jib 95 and replacing it in the rearmost position and then withdrawing the pins 94 securing the lower ends of the stays 91 on the base and folding the stays 91 upwardly back against the upright tubes 89 of the column 88 where they are retained by friction between the stays 91 and legs 89. With the column 88 manually supported, the valve is opened on the pump 107 and the jib 95 allowed to fall until it lies parallel with the two upright members 89. The pump valve is tightened and the ram 101 pumped so as to pull the jib 95 into the upright members 89 and in a retracted position. The column 88 is then pivoted forwardly so that the column 88 is rotated downwardly through Although reference has been made in the above embodiments to the two legs of the base being parallel, these can conveniently be splayed outwardly. The spacing between the legs is particularly designed to enable the legs to fit around t e wheel of a vehicle so that the base of the crane can be orientated at any desired angle to the vehicle.

It will be manifest that in both the above embodiments the upright support or structure can be mounted on the base structure in any convenient manner provided there is a permanent pivotal connection therebetween. This connection may be such as to dispense with the stays, i.e. a convenient form of socketting arrangement.

The jib may be other than pivotally mounted on the upright support or structure; and means other than a hydraulic ram may be employed to move the jib relative to the upright support.

What is claimed is:

l. A floor crane comprising in combination:

a. a rigid U-shaped base frame having a pair of non-movable limbs closed at one end,

b. a further frame having an upper end and a lower end in cluding a pair of sides with a cross-bar connecting said sides intermediate said ends, said lower end of said further frame being pivoted to the closed end of said U- shaped frame,

d. a jib pivoted at said upper end of said further frame for pivotal lifting and lowering movement,

e. a bracket secured to said jib and having an elongated slot cut therein, which slot is laterally extended at its end remote from the further frame,

f. a fluid ram pivotally connected with said cross-bar of said further frame and connected with said jib to effect the pivotal lifting by a bolt on the ram end slidably engaged in said elongate slot,

g. a further cross-bar connecting said limbs of said U-shaped frame, and

h. a stay pivoted to each side of said further frame and releasably connected with said further cross-bar.

2. A floor crane according to claim 1 further provided with means to releasably secure said stays parallel with said further frame when the crane is in a folded position. 

1. A floor crane comprising in combination: a. a rigid U-shaped base frame having a pair of non-movable limbs closed at one end, b. a further frame having an upper end and a lower end including a pair of sides with a cross-bar connecting said sides intermediate said ends, said lower end of said further frame being pivoted to the closed end of said U-shaped frame, d. a jib pivoted at said upper end of said further frame for pivotal lifting and lowering movement, e. a bracket secured to said jib and having an elongated slot cut therein, which slot is laterally extended at its end remote from the further frame, f. a fluid ram pivotally connected with said cross-bar of said further frame and connected with said jib to effect the pivotal lifting by a bolt on the ram end slidably engaged in said elongate slot, g. a further cross-bar connecting said limbs of said U-shaped frame, and h. a stay pivoted to each side of said further frame and releasably connected with said further cross-bar.
 2. A floor crane according to claim 1 further provided with means to releasably secure said stays parallel with said further frame when the crane is in a folded position. 